Brooklyn Nets: 25 greatest individual games in team history
By Phil Watson
12. Ray Williams at Detroit Pistons, April 17, 1982
The Pontiac Silverdome was set to host the NBA’s top two rookies of 1981-82, with New Jersey Nets forward Buck Williams eventually winning Rookie of the Year honors ahead of runner-up Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons.
But on April 17, 1982, it was a player more well-known as the younger brother of one of the NBA’s top stars of the day who stole the show.
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New Jersey guard Ray Williams was an accomplished player in his own right, a starting-caliber backcourt player who could play the 1 or the 2 and did so for six teams over a 10-year career.
The Nets were 43-38 and prepared to close the regular season and head to the playoffs for just the second time in six NBA seasons. The Pistons came in 38-42, out of the postseason discussion but much improved with the additons of Thomas and fellow first-year standout Kelly Tripucka.
The battle between the rooks was basically a standoff. Buck Williams had 22 points and 17 reounds, while Thomas finished with 24 points,
But the star of the 147-132 New Jersey win was Ray Williams, who erupted for a career-high 52 points and added seven assists. It topped his previous career best, set with the New York Knicks on Nov. 9, 1980, by a full 10 points and gave New Jersey a fifth straight win to close the season.